Union College News

Union's Beloved Dr. Ron Rosenstiel Passes Away
...A Warrior Leaves His Mark
by Eddie Arnold

There are a lot of things that stick out in people minds when they recall their memories about Dr. Ron Rosenstiel... his love for his family, his dedication to his profession, and his commitment to education for his students. But the one thing that many remember most about him was his overwhelming love and respect for nature and the Native American way of life.

On Thursday, dozens of family members, friends and students gathered inside the Wind River Tribe Barn to pay their last respects to Rosenstiel in a manner that befitted his Native American ancestry - a full Native American service.

Rosenstiel earned his BA degree in English from the University of Kentucky in 1965, his MS degree in education in 1968, his Master's degree in anthropology in 1970, and a Ph.D. in applied social anthropology in 1980.

A native of Covington, Rosenstiel began his long association with Union College in 1984, when he began his service as an Assistant Professor of Sociology, a positon he held until 1987, when he was named Associate Professor of Sociology. In 1991 he took the position of Professor of Sociology, a position he held until only months before his death last week.

Rosenstiel, who was of Shawnee descent, was a member of the Wind River Tribe, and took every opportunity to promote and educate people about Native American culture, and was especially in tune with the spirits of his deceased elders.

About two years ago, while on a visit to the historic McNeil's Crossing farm, Rosenstiel happened by an old coffin shop which sits at the farm. "This shop just caught his eye," said farm owner and history buff David Cornett. "He didn't even know he was sick at the time."

Farm owner and history buff David Cornett said that Rosenstiel told him, "I feel spirits coming from it. You've got to promise me you'll build my coffin. I have to have one built in that shop."

Immediately, Rosenstiel told Cornett that he wanted his casket made by Cornett in that shop. Cornett said he agreed to meet with Rosenstiel at a future time and discuss the details. "The next thing I knew, he was sick," Cornett said.

After Rosenstiel's death, family members went to Cornett to make sure his request was fulfilled. Cornett said that, at first, he was somewhat hesitant to take on such a project. However, he decided to give it a try. "You can't deny a man his last request," Cornett said.

And so, on Tuesday night of last week, Cornett, his son David Scott, and Ron's son Aaron, began the task of, began the task of building the coffin. They were assisted in the process by Jerry Campbell, Doc Gray, and Wayne Dalton.

On Thursday, the coffin was delivered to Knox Funeral Home just prior to the trip to Rosenstiel's final resting place near Crane's Nest. In keeping with Native American customs, family members and friends brought gifts and tokens of their respect and love to be placed in the coffin.

Rosenstiel, whose Native American name was "Blue Heron," was very active in the Black Wolf Warrior Society, where he served as Blanket and Gourd Council Member. A friend and fellow member of the society, Jim Waterfox Whitaker, recalled his longtime friendship with Rosenstiel:

"He was a really good man, and a good teacher. He taught me what I could and couldn't eat in the mountains," Whitaker said, adding that Rosenstiel took special joy in passing his knowledge on to younger generations.

"He loved kids. He would take groups of children, and adults, through the mountains and tell them what they could eat," he said, recalling how Rosenstiel loved to tell of Native American traditions. "He would gather children around him and tell them stories around the fire," Whitaker said.

Rosenstiel would often travel to Native American gatherings across the region and was always eager to help, as longtime friend Donald Sizemore explained.

"He would always participate in the ceremonies we do up here at Pineville, and he was just always a good person. He was willing to help in anything we do," Sizemore said. "He would call me from time to time and we would talk about the Indian culture. He was a real inspiration to me."

Expressions of sympathy may go to the Dr. Ron Rosenstiel Endowed Scholarship Fund, Union College Advancement Office, 310 College Street, Barbourville, Kentucky, 40906

March 29, 2005

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